Super Tuesday LIVE: Trump and Biden each sweep all states except one; Nikki Haley finds silver lining in Vermont

Here, via AP, is an estimated timeline for tonight, so you can plan your evening. All times are EST …

6 pm EST (11 pm GMT): Results expected in Iowa 7 pm: Polls close in Vermont and Virginia. Caucuses convene in Alaska (Republicans only) 7:30 pm: Polls close in North Carolina 8 pm: Polls close in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Most polls close in Texas. 8:30 pm: Polls close in Arkansas 9 pm: Polls close in Colorado and Minnesota. Last polls close in Texas. Caucuses convene in Utah (Republicans only)10 pm: Polls close in Utah (Democrats only)11 pm: Polls close in California. Voting is expected to end in Utah (Republicans only). Midnight: Voting ends in Alaska (Republicans only)

Super Tuesday is the biggest day in selecting the nominees for the 2024 Presidential Race. As the stakes are high, the higher the voter turnout, the better the chances for contenders. But ever wondered how astronauts can cast their ballots from space? Here's how… Read More

On early Tuesday, President Joe Biden shared a message on X, formerly Twitter, urging voters that “now is the time to make your voice heard.” He also wrote, “If you’re in a Super Tuesday state or territory, polls are starting to open.” In a previous tweet ahead of the D-day, Biden said, “Every single House Republican voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.”

Stage is set in the United States for Super Tuesday, the grand day when 15 states, including titans -- California and Texas -- will head to polls on March 5. The voting is poised to move incumbent President Joe Biden and ex-US President Donald Trump closer to White House rematch. Read more

The US Supreme Court gave a big boost to former US President Donald Trump on Monday, when it decided that the former president can stay on the Republican primary ballot in Colorado.

The state’s top court had tried to kick him off the ballot, using the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which says that anyone who has been involved in an insurrection can’t hold public office. Read More

Today is Super Tuesday, which means the stakes are high, especially for Nikki Haley, who lost to fellow GOP contender Donald Trump in her home state. Losing South Carolina was a big blow to Haley, who served as the state's 116th governor from 2011 to 2017. In a final pitch to voters on Tuesday, March 5, Haley confirmed she has no plans to run third party if the former president wins the GOP primary.

“I am a conservative Republican. I have been all my life. And the problem is right now, everybody is saying if you don't if you don't support Donald Trump, you're a Democrat. That's terrible. And that's not unifying, and that's not going to get anyone to win a general election. What I will tell you is I'm a conservative Republican,” Haley said in an interview with Fox News.

“I have said many, many times I would not run as an independent. I would not run as no labels because I am a Republican. And that's who I've always been. That's what I'm going to do. And so that's my focus. What we wanted was to give people a voice. We're going to have that today. 16 states and territories are going to vote. God bless America that we get to do that. And then we're going to take it from there. That's what we've always said,” she added.

Pop sensation Taylor Swift has a message for her fans on Super Tuesday. The 34-year-old singer is known for emphasising the importance of voting during the elections. As today marks the most important day in the run-up to selecting the US presidential nominees, the Cruel Summer hitmaker reminded her fans to vote.

Taking to her Instagram story, Swift wrote, “Today, March 5, is the Presidential Primary in Tennessee and 16 other states and territories. I wanted to remind you guys to vote the people who most represent YOU into power. If you haven't already, make a plan to vote today. Whether you're in Tennessee or somewhere else in the US, check your polling places and times at vote.org.” Read More

The Democrat-Republican battle for the California Senate race is heating up ahead of Super Tuesday. Newcomer Steve Garvey is in a “statistical tie” with Adam Schiff, according to a poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. The ex-MLB star is contesting to fill the late Senator Dianne Feinstein's seat against Schiff and other Democratic contenders. READ MORE

On Super Tuesday 2020, held on March 3, Joe Biden secured a significant victory, winning 10 primaries and earning 650 pledged delegates. Bernie Sanders won four primaries with 556 delegates, while Elizabeth Warren and Tulsi Gabbard won no primaries but received 76 and 2 delegates, respectively. Michael Bloomberg, though winning one primary with 60 delegates, eventually withdrew from the race and endorsed Biden. Approximately 40% of the U.S. held primary events on that Super Tuesday, according to Ballotpedia.

In the Republican primary, Donald Trump ran unopposed in Maine and Minnesota, winning 13 states overall. His opponents included Joe Walsh and Bill Weld.

In preparation for the 2024 election, President Biden is advocating for a more aggressive strategy aimed at confronting Donald Trump directly, according to Axios report. Privately, Biden believes that taunting Trump daily will rattle him, given his perceived intellectual and emotional vulnerability. The president sees an opportunity to provoke Trump into explosive reactions, intending to make the former president go "haywire in public," according to an adviser.

The president's feistiness has been on display in recent weeks, with taunts like "Loser" becoming a favorite retort against Trump. Biden has expressed confidence in beating Trump again, highlighting Trump's numerous failed legal challenges regarding the 2020 election results. The approach involves making the contest as much about Trump as Biden's own achievements, potentially resonating with voters who appreciated Biden's combative style during the 2012 vice-presidential debate against Rep. Paul Ryan.

On Super Tuesday, millions in US are heading to the polls in a significant voting day for both Democrats and Republicans ahead of the November presidential election.

Voting is already underway in eastern states like Virginia, North Carolina, and Maine, as well as in the Midwest in Minnesota and Iowa. Polls will open soon in other states like Colorado and further west later.

The states participating in Super Tuesday include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Additionally, the territory of American Samoa will be conducting caucuses.

Down-ballot primaries on Super Tuesday will play a crucial role in shaping the broader political landscape beyond high-profile races. These elections in California, North Carolina and Alabama, which include contests for positions like the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures, and local offices, will contribute significantly to determining party candidates for the general election. Read More

Former President Donald Trump heads into Super Tuesday with a substantial lead in GOP delegates over Nikki Haley. By the night's end, he's likely to approach the crucial 1,215 delegates needed to end the race. Despite winning only in Washington, D.C., Haley's coalition, relying on affluent, college-educated suburbanites, faces challenges. Many Super Tuesday states have demographics favoring Trump, and party rules limit non-Republicans' participation.

In states like South Carolina, where 40% of the vote got Haley only 6% of delegates, even strong showings might not yield meaningful delegate gains. To overcome this, Haley needs to broaden her coalition or boost turnout. Analyzing GOP caucuses and primaries, our estimates show that unless she secures outright majorities in multiple states, Haley's campaign will struggle against the delegate math. Explore our state-by-state analysis for insights into Super Tuesday and beyond.

Super Tuesday marks a crucial phase in presidential primaries, where voters from over 16 states participate in simultaneous contests.

Big day of primaries:

More than one-third of the total delegates in both the GOP and Democratic primaries are at stake today.

Trump vs Haley final showdown:

Former President Donald Trump has vanquished Nikki Haley in all but one primary poll with delegate count far ahead of her. It takes 1,215 delegates to win the Republican nomination. Donald Trump has already won support of 244 delegates, Nikki Haley has only 43 by her side.

Biden's easy ride to nomination

President Joe Biden isn’t facing any major competition, but he's looking for a strong showing today as he gears up for a possible rematch with Trump in November. It takes 1,968 delegates to win the Democratic nomination, he has already won support of 206 delegates.

Senate races to watch

There are also key primaries in Senate and House races in several states, including California and Texas, a member vs. member congressional primary in Alabama and primaries for governor in North Carolina.

Republican Primary Election Update

Donald Trump - 273 delegates

Nikki Haley 43 delegates

(1215 delegates needed to win the nomination)

Democratic Primary Election Update

Joe Biden - 206 delegates

(1968 delegates needed to win the nomination)

Americans hold more positive views of Donald Trump's policies than those of President Biden, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. The data indicates that 40% of voters believe Trump's policies personally benefited them, while only 18% express the same sentiment about Biden's policies. In contrast, 43% of voters feel that Biden's policies have had a negative impact on them, nearly double the percentage who say the same about Trump's policies, as per the latest Times/Siena poll.

This sentiment aligns with a broader trend where presidents tend to be remembered more favorably once they leave office. A retrospective analysis of nine out of the past 11 presidents, including Trump, reveals that approval of job performance typically increases by 12 percentage points after leaving office, according to a Gallup poll from June. Despite the intense and critical opinions surrounding both Biden and Trump, the perceived impact of policies on individuals significantly favors Trump in the eyes of the American electorate.

A new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that escalating numbers doubted 81-year-old President Joe Biden has what it takes to serve effectively as president. While he prepares for his upcoming State of the Union address on Thursday, 6 in 10 adults are very doubtful about his mental capability to lead the country again. Read More

15 states and one US territory will vote for their preferred candidates on Super Tuesday. Read More

While most eyes will be on the presidential race, particularly for the Republicans, voters will also be making decisions on their final slate of candidates in Senate, House and governors races. Their vote today will determine political control of Congress and states for the next two to four years.

California Senate Seat:

Focus will be on Democratic Senate nominee selection as the seat has been previously held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Being a solidly blue seat (tilted towards the Democrats) the primary is likely to indicate front-runner for November election. The state’s so-called jungle primary system means that the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party. Representative Adam Schiff is the front-runner, and is likely to nab one of two winning spots. However, due to a mail-in voting the final results will be delayed. Read More

North Carolina Gubernatorial Race:

Super Tuesday will kick off one of the most pivotal governor’s races this fall in North Carolina. It features two candidates with starkly different views in one of the country’s most contested swing states. If Josh Stein, the state’s attorney general and a traditional Democrat wins, he’s likely to face off in November against Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a right-wing culture warrior. It will inevitably be a referendum on the national parties. Republicans will link Stein to Biden, seeking to tie the Democratic candidate to a president with underwater approval ratings. Democrats, meanwhile, have already begun painting Robinson as an extremist on issues like abortion rights.

Texas Senate Challenger:

The state will pick the Democratic challenger to Sen. Ted Cruz, who is seeking a third term. Nine Democratic candidates are looking to be Cruz's opponent in the fall. Texas stands out as a crucial battleground on Super Tuesday. Positioned on the southern border, Texas has grappled with pressing issues like immigration, gun violence, and abortion access. The state's considerable number of Republican House members, electors in the Electoral College, and its role in leading the opposition to the Biden administration underscore its pivotal role in shaping the political landscape. Read More

Immigration has become a central issue in the 2024 election, even overshadowing other perennially important topics.

In the Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina Republican primaries and caucuses, AP surveys found that immigration emerged as the top issue for voters, beating out the economy and foreign policy concerns.

Trump’s hardline policies and rhetoric on immigration are popular among early contest voters. Between 79% and 88% of voters in the Republican contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina say they support building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Donald Trump won the North Dakota Republican presidential caucuses on Monday, adding to his string of victories heading into Super Tuesday. Read More

He has already bagged Haley's home state of South Carolina, winning 60% of the vote there, and Michigan, where he secured about 70% of the vote. The Supreme Court also unanimously restored Donald Trump to 2024 presidential primary ballots, rejecting state attempts to ban the Republican former president over the Capitol riot. Read More

Ahead of the mammoth election night, Haley's campaign launched a seven-figure national cable and digital ad buy to run through at least Tuesday in hopes of winning over voters. Her campaign has also been crisscrossing the U.S. in the final days ahead of March 5 to meet as many voters as possible.